Propelling mechanism



Nov. 21, 1950 E. H. DEsMoULlNs PROPELLING MECHANISM Filed DeG. 17, 1938 0 ,9 1y f6 jiji Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES 4en'rfi-:11W

Application December 17, 193s, serial No. 246,252 In France December 301, 1937 section 3Pub1'ie Law 69o, August s, 194s Patent expires December 3i), 1957 The present invention relates to a 'propelling mechanism for the propulsion of motor driven machines.

The propeller unit ofV a motor driven machine, especiallyof an airplane or hydroplan'e, usually consists of a propeller rotatively driven by an engine, between which a speed reducing device may be interposed.

Propeller devices have been constructed which comprise two propellers carried by two different shafts rotatively driven by a single engine by means of suitable transmissions.

Propeller devices have also been constructed having two propellers carried lby two coaxial shafts, one of 'said' shafts extending through the other shaft, which latter is tubular, these tw'o 'propellers rotating in opposite directions, each being rotatively driven by' an engine owing to a suitable transmission.

An object of the present invention is to provide a propeller unit for motor driven machines of a simple construction and one which will allow a better utilization of the power of the motor of such driven machines.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter as the description continues.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of a propeller unit for motor driven machines embodying the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a slightly modified form. y

The propeller unit as shown in Fig. 1 is adapted for use preferably upon airplanes and comprises two propellers I and 2 having reverse pitches coaxially arranged with respect to one another and capable of being rotatively driven in opposite directionsl by one and the same engine.

The propeller I is mounted upon and secured to one end of a tubular shaft 3. This shaft 3 is journalled upon the two spaced ball bearings 4 carried by a second tubular shaft 5. The motor arranged within the aircraft or other driven machine is provided with a spindle 6 extending from one end of the driven shaft thereof and the tubular shaft 5 is received by and secured to this spindle 6, so as to rotate therewith. A nut 1 is connected to the outer end of the spindle 6 for detachably connecting the shaft 5 thereto. Detachable rings or nuts 8 are connected to the outer end of the shaft 5 for engagement with the outermost ball bearing 4 which latter in turn Y limits the longitudinal movement in one direction of the tubular shaft 3 upon the shaft 5.

I The propeller z is mounted upon and seemed to a sleeve shaft 9 which latter is journalled a bali bearing le and a needle bearing lil carried by the tubular shaft 3, the ball bearing Ibi-forming a longitudinal abutment for this sleeve shaft 9.A From this arrangement it is apparent that the tubular shafts and tubular sleeve 9 arev all ranged concentrically to one another and' Iiln rotation' of the spindle '6' they shaft 9` will be carried therewith without rotating the tubular shaft 3 or tubular sleeve 9 except fortne plan@ tary gearing hereinafter described.

Fieyel'i to the inner end of thtubular shaft 3 is a driven sun gear I2 and the Iattei -is retained in place by a ring or platea I3 having threaded engagement 'with the inner end of the shaft 3l. The inner end of the hunnerI sleeve 9 has formed therewith a flange or plate i4' which 'extends 'parallel with and in spaced relationto the 'plate4 I3. Journalled in the plates I3 and I4 are spindles I5 each carrying a pinion I1 forming a chain of intermediate gearing which are in mesh with the driven gear I2.

Formed with the inner end of the tubular shaft 5 is a flange or plate I8 and secured by suitable fastening elements to one face of this plate I8 adjacent the outer periphery thereof is an internally toothed drive gear I9 which also meshes with the intermediate pinions I'I. From this arrangement it is also apparent that as the engine rotates the spindle 6 in one direction the internal gear I9 will rotate therewith and the sleeve shaft 9 together with the propeller 2 will also rotate in the same direction therewith. Due to the intermediate pinions I1 the gear I2 will be caused to rotate in an opposite direction from that of the gear I9 and the tubular shaft 3 together with the propeller I carried thereby will rotate in the same direction as that of the gear I2 or in a direction opposite to that of the propeller 2.

In the modified form of the invention as shown in Fig. 2 the propellers I' and 2 may still rotate in opposite directions upon a common drive shaft and yet be subjected to variations of speed, that is, the speed of rotation of one propeller may equal that of the drive shaft and the speed of rotation of the other propeller may be reduced or vice-versa. These propellers I and 2' may have reverse pitches or may be of different diameters as conditions or use thereof may warrant.

The engine or drive shaft 6 is provided with a flange 20 secured by means of the bolts as shown to a flange 2| formed with the inner end of the 3 spindle 5'. Connected to the ange 2| is a driving bevelled crown gear I9 which meshes with the bevel pinions Ila and the pinions I'la have each formed integrally therewith another bevel pinion I'lb. These planetary pinions lla and Hb are journalled upon the spindles l5 carried by the flange I4 formed with the inner end of the tubular shaft 9 and secured to the outer end of this shaft 9 is the forward propeller 2. Interposed between the spindle 5' and shaft 9 is the ball bearings I and Il and the lock-nuts 8 are provided for retaining the shaft 9 upon the spindle The tubular sleeve 3 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 9' by means of the ball bearings 4 and has secured thereto the propeller I. A brake drum 22 is connected to the inner end of the sleeve 3 and has secured thereto a driven bevel sun gear I2' which later meshes with the pinions llb. Connected to the spindles l5 for the planetary gears is another brake drum 23 and by applying suitable braking power to either or both of these drums 23 and 23 the speed of rotation of the propellers may be varied at will.

I-claim:

A drive for rotating a pair of coaxial members in opposite directions comprising a spindle to be driven from a power source, a tubular shaft for supporting one of said coaxial members on the outer end thereof and journalled upon and arranged concentrically with said spindle, a ange extending substantially at right angles from and rotatable by the inner end of said spindle, an annular driving gear carried at the outer extremity of said flange and having internal teeth positioned substantially parallel to said tubular shaft, a tubular sleeve for supporting the second of said coaxial members on the outer end thereof and journalled upon and arranged concentrically with said tubular shaft, a iiange extending from the inner end of said sleeve, pinions journalled upon said flange positioned adjacent said spindle ilange and in mesh with said driving gear, a sun gear secured to the inner end of said tubular shaft, extending at about right angles thereto in line with said driving gear and in mesh with said pinions for rotating said tubular shaft in an opposite direction to said tubular sleeve.

EMILE HYACINTHE DESMOULINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,431,683 Ramsay Oct. 10, 1922 1,434,620 McCain Nov. 7, 1922 1,513,981 Gilbert Nov. 4, 1924 1,821,450 Stelzer Sept. 1, 1931 1,887,429 Price Nov. 8, 1932 1,902,374 Pirinoli Mar. 21, 1933 1,950,971 Chilton Mar. 13, 1934 2,085,483 Trebucien June 29, 1937 2,123,057 Martin July 5, 1938 2,148,313 Williams Feb. 21, 1939 2,154,532 Ryder Apr. 18, 1939 2,194,060 Van Vactor Mar. 19, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,413A Great Britain Apr. 23, 1907 14,743 Great Britain June 19, 1914 230,257 Germany Nov. 10, 1914 356,090 Italy Jan. 25, 1938 357,807 Italy Mar. 28, 1938 421,889 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1934 499,985 France Dec. 4, 1919 722,339 France Dec. 29, 1931 

